Apprentice boost for Western Sydney

Hundreds of workers will be given the opportunity to learn new skills and earn formal qualifications as part of the WestConnex project.

A purpose-built WestConnex training academy will deliver training to more than 1500 workers, including 400 apprentices and trainees, during construction of the project, in partnership with providers such as TAFE NSW.

Premier Mike Baird today joined Minister for Roads Duncan Gay and Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure Paul Fletcher and to meet a group of new recruits undergoing on-the-job training at the newly opened facility in Homebush.

“The infrastructure boom is about much more than new roads, rail, hospitals and schools – it’s creating new job opportunities right across NSW,” Mr Baird said.

“Initiatives like this will provide a fresh start for so many people, giving them an opportunity to secure a job and learn new qualifications while helping deliver projects of long-term benefit to our state.”

WestConnex will target Western Sydney residents who are long-term unemployed, Indigenous workers, or retrenched from other industries for recruitment as apprentices and trainees.

Mr Gay said: “It’s been a great start with 15 TAFE NSW pre-employment program graduates already offered work on the WestConnex M4 East twin tunnels. These graduates will continue their training and skills development at the academy while getting hands on experience on the projects.”

Mr Fletcher said: “We are getting on with building much-needed infrastructure such as WestConnex, which will reduce congestion, unlock economic capacity and provide a vital injection of jobs to the region, as we’re seeing here today.”

WestConnex will be the third project to be included in the NSW Government’s Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program, which sets firm employment and training targets for major projects.